Five ‘Bali Nine’ ring members return to Australia after 19 years in prison
Al Jazeera
Diplomatic efforts have resolved a saga that strained relations between the two countries.
Five members of the Australian “Bali Nine” drug ring have returned from Indonesia after 19 years in jail following diplomatic efforts between the two countries this month to strike a repatriation deal.
The men, who flew home on Sunday, were among nine people arrested in 2005 trying to smuggle more than 8kg of heroin out of the Indonesian resort island of Bali.
Two ringleaders, Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, were executed in 2015, prompting Australia to recall its ambassador in protest. The only woman in the group was released from prison in 2018, and a male member died of cancer the same year.
“The Australian Government can confirm that Australian citizens, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, Martin Stephens, Si Yi Chen, and Michael Czugaj have returned to Australia,” Canberra said in a statement.
“The men will have the opportunity to continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.”
